Dual Layer Dvd: Moon Rise Times

Monday, 5 November 2012

Moon Rise Times

The reddish orange rising full Moon has the similar colorcast that occurs with the rising or setting Sun. This colorcast is caused by the atmosphere scattering of the blue spectrum of Moon light and Sun light. Also, this scattering of blue light results in the blue sky we see. Directly overhead is the least amount of atmosphere that the light has to pass through. The reduction of light caused by the atmosphere is call atmosphere absorption and can reduce light by three magnitudes for celestial objects on the horizon. This is why it is best to observe celestial objects when they are overhead or as close as possible to being overhead. When celestial objects are on the horizon their light passes through the maximum amount of astrosphere and they are dimmer. Being dimmer is the reason we can look directly at the setting Sun but cannot look directly at the Sun overhead. Also, the rising and setting Moon light and Sun light has the maximum amount of blue light being scattered. Therefore, like in the above image we see a red to orange colored Moon and later in the evening when the Moon is high in the sky it will be shinning white and much brighter.